Fulcrum-post for brake-beams.



No. 800,409.. "PATENYTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

I W. B. SHARP. FULGRUM POST FOR BRAKE BEAMS.

. APPLIOATION FILED JULY 10,1 905- 3 SHEETS-$111331 1.

No. 800,409. PATENTED SEPT. 26, 1905.

' WI En PULGRUM POST FOR BRAKE BEAMS.

PPPPPPPPPPPPPPP D J-ULY 10,1905.

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; ZZ 0. I I g N0. 800,409. PATBNTED SEPT. 20 1005.

W.- E. SHARP.

FULGRUM POST FOR BRAKE BEAMS} APPLICATION FILED JULY 10,1905.

3' SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' To all whom it may concern/.-

UNITED STATES WILLIAM E.

PATENT OFFICE.

SHARP, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF'TO GEORGE E. ROBBINS, OF HINSDALE, ILLINOIS.

FULCRUM-POST FOR BRAKE-BEAMS.

Patented Sept. 26, 1905.

Application filed uly 10,1905. Serial No. 269,020.

Be it. known that I, WILLIAM E. SHARP, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ohicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fulcrum-Posts for Brake- Beams, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of brakebeams for railway-cars, and has reference more particularly to a new and improved construction of fulcrum-posts for 'operatmg the brake-lever. v

More specifically, my invention pertams to that class of fulcrum-posts adapted to accommodate interchangeably right-hand or left-hand brake-levers.

The principal object of my mventlon 1s to provide a simple and compact fulcrum-post in which the brake-lever may be readily changed from right to left Without necessitating the removal of the post from the brake-beam andfwithout necessitating the. separation and reuniting of POSllGlVGlY-GOIk. -nected arts. I To t 's and other minor ends my lnvention consists, substantially, in a skeleton frame having right and lefthand diagonal passage-ways to accommodate the lever, 1n

combination with removable leversupport-.

ing plates interfittingly engaging the members of the post-frame in such a manner that they may be readily removed and changed from a position within one of the passageways to a corresponding position wlthin the being so engaged w1th the frame of the post that when the lever 1s n position they are incapable of dlsplacement or removal; but when the lever 1s removed they may be readily withdrawn for the purpose of readjustment. g k

My invention will be readlly understood when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings,which illustrate the preferred mechanical embodiment thereof, and wherein V v a plan view of a fragment of a Figure 1 is showing my improved fulcrumbrake-b earn,-

post mounted thereon. Fig. 2 is an end view of the brake-beam, showlng the fulcrumpost in side elevation. Fig. 3 1s an outer end view of the post as mounted upon the brake-beam, and Fig. 4 is across-sect1onal view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, 10 designates a brake-beam of the common I-beam formation, to the center of which the fulcrum-post is applied.

11 designates as an entirety the preferably integral frame of my improved fulcrumpost. 7 More specifically describing the 'latter, 11 designates an inner end plate having inwardly-turned rectangular ears 11 that snugly engage the flange and web of the beam, being secured thereto by a bolt or rivet 12. Projecting from the outer face of the endplate 11 are four equally-spaced parallel posts 11, disposed ninety degrees a art, said post's being rigidly united at t eir outer ends by an end plate 114. For the sake of lightness the two end plates 11 and-11 may be snugly apertured, as shown at 11 and 11 respectively, Figs 4 and 3. The innerfaces of the posts 11 are preferably formed by a pair of plane surfaces disposed at right angles to each other, thus givthe inner sides of the post the rectangu- 1n lai formation of cross-section clearly shown in Fig. 4. The described construction of the frame of the post results in the formation of a pair of oblique or diagonal passage-ways 12 and 13 therethrough disposed at right angles toeach other.

14 and 15 desi'g'nate a pair of'symmetrical companion plates constituting the members to and between which the brake-lever 16 is directly pivoted. These plates are of a length corresponding to. the length of the passage-ways 12 and 13 from end to end of the post and are 'of a Width preferably slightly less than the full width of said passage-ways, as clearly indicated in Figs. 1 and 4, respectively- Each plate has formed on and referably integral with its outer or back 'si e a rectangular projection 14 and 15, respectively, which, for the sake of lightness, is preferably cast hollow, as shown in Fig. 4. These projections are of proper size and form to just fit inand fill the spaces formed or bounded by adjacent posts 1 1 and the end walls 11 and 11 Centrally of the plates and their rojections are formed holes which receive a lcrum-pin 17 passed therethrough and through a corresponding re istering hole in the brake-lever. Said 1- crum-pin has the usual head 17 a at one end and cotter-pin 17 b at the other end, whereby when inserted it is retained in place.

In order to preserve the same form, size, and dimensions in the four posts 11, and consequently insure equal strength and rigidity in all of said posts, the passage-ways 12 and 13 lie at right angles to each other and each inclined forty-five-degrees from the vertical, as herein shown. Inasmuch as in standard practice the brake-lever is inclined forty degrees from the vertical I provide for this variation by inclining the inner faces of the pivoted plates 14 and 15 five degrees out of parallelism with the outer faces or walls of the passage-ways, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, thereby forming one edge of said glates somewhat thicker than the other edge.

y then placing the two plates inversely their two inclined faces may be brought into parallelism with each other and with the sides of the brake-lever when the same is inclined forty degrees from the vertical. Of course by forming the passage-ways 12 and 13 at angles of forty degrees from the vertical on either side fulcrum-plates 14 and 15 of uniform thickness would suffice, and such a construction I regard as entirely within the prin ciple of my invention. As above stated, the form and construction shown and described are preferred on account of afiording greater compactness and uniformity of-size, form, and strength in the several parallel frame members of the fulcrum-post.

In assembling the parts one of the members 14 or 15 is introduced to the passageway 13 and secured in place by pressing the same against one wall of the passage-way, with the extension 14 or 15 occupying space between the adjacent fulcrum-posts. The other plate may then be inserted similarly on the opposite side. When both plates. are in position, as shown in Fig. 4, a space is provided between them for the introduction of the brakelever, which is secured therein by the insertion of the pivotpin 17, the latter being locked in place by the insertion of the cotterin 17. When it is desired to shift the bra :e-lever to the opposite side, the fulcrum-pin is withdrawn, the lever is then withdrawn, the plates 14 and 1.5 are withdrawn one at a time, and the parts are then reassembled in the passage-way 12 in precisely the manner already described. The integral end plate 11 forms a closure for the end of the post, preventing possibility of longitudinal displacement of the fulcrumplates 14 and 15, which latter, it will be observed, are always inserted and withdrawn laterally of the post. It will also be observed that when the brake-lever is in position it is impossible for the fulcrum-plates to become dis laced or withdrawn by reason of their inter 'tting engagement with the inner faces of the fulcrum-posts 11.

From the foregoing it will be observed that my invention provides a simple, economical,

the invention.

and easily assembled and adjusted fulcrumpost adapted to accommodate with equal facility either a right-hand or left-hand brakelever. It also does away with the necessity of screws, bolts, and similar uniting devices for retaining the parts in coi'jperative relation when assembled, permitting the reassembling and adjusting of the parts without requiring the use of tools for manipulating said uniting devices.

It is evident that variations and modifications in the forms and relative arrrangements of the several parts described and shown may be made by those acquainted with the art without departingfrom the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of Hence I do not limit the invention to the detail features shown and described except to the extent indicated in specific claims.

It is of course evident that the principle of the invention as represented by the laterally insertible and removable fulcrumplates might be embodied in a fulcrum-post adapted for the accommodation of the brake-lever in but a single direction.

I claim 1. A fulcrum-post for brake-beams comprising a skeleton frame adapted to be secured to the brake-beam, said frame having a passage-way for the brake-lever formed therein, in combination with a pair of removable fulcrum-plates adapted to lie against the walls of said passage-way and interfittingly engage the frame of the post and serving to pivotally support the brake-lever between them, substantially as described.

2. A fulcrum-post for brake-beams comprising a skeleton frame ada )ted to be socured to the brake-beam, sai frame having a pair of right and left passage-ways formed therein, in combination with a pair of removable fulcrum-plates adapted to be mounted in either of said )assage-ways and to pivotally support the rake-lever between them, substantially as described.

3. A fulcrum-post for brake-beams comprising a skeleton frame adapted to be secured to the brake-beam, said frame having a pair of intersecting right and left passage.- ways formed therein, in combination with a pair of removable fulcrum- )lates adapted to lie against the op osite walls of either of said passage-ways and provided with projections adapted to engage the walls of the intersecting passageway, said fulcrum-plates pivotally sup orting the brake-lever between them, su stantially as described.

4. A fulcrum-post for brake-beams comprising a skeleton frame ada )ted to be socured to the brake-beam, sai frame havin a pair of right and left assage-ways formed therein intersecting eacli other at an angle of ninety degrees, in combination with a pair of 1 angle of ninety degrees, each of said passageways bein inclined forty-five degrees from the vertica in combination with a air of removable fulcrum-plates adapted to is against the opposite walls of either of said passageways and provided on their backs with pro jections adapted to engage the walls of the intersecting passage-way, said fulcrum-plates having inversely-disposed inner faces inclined to the planes of the walls of the passage-way and pivotally supporting the braketially as described.

lever between them, substantially as described. Y

6. A fulcrum-post for brake-beams comprising four separated parallel frame-posts connected at both ends by transversely-disposed plates, thereby forming a. air of intersecting passage-ways formed t erethrough laterally, in combination with a pair of laterally insertible andremovable fu crum-plates adapted to lie against the opposite walls of either of said passage-ways and provided on their backs with rejections adapted to engage the walls o the intersecting passageways, said fulcrumlates pivotally su porting the brake-lever between them, sub

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereunto subscr bed my name in the presence of two witnesses.

, 7 WILLIAM E. SHARP. Witnesses:

WALTER M. FULLER,

FREDERICK O. GooDwIN.

stan- 

